LAS VEGAS, USA—Glimmering brightly in the glow of the city of lights in the entertainment capital of the world, 33 of the world’s top desert racers will put on their own special spectacle under the lights of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Off-Road Track Tuesday at 7 p.m. PT when qualifying is held for the upcoming 49th annual SCORE Baja 1000, the iconic granddaddy of all desert races.
SCORE QUALIFYING
The qualifying event at LVMS is being held for the third straight year as an extension of the massive SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience at the SEMA Show being held Tuesday through Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Both events are being presented by BFGoodrich Tires, celebrating 40 years of SCORE Baja racing.
In the dirt at LVMS will be two of the top SCORE racing divisions—the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division and the relatively new Trophy Truck Spec class. With one vehicle on the track at a time, each truck will run three qualifying laps over a .7-mile course (2.1 total miles) in front of the LVMS Off-Road Track grandstands with the total elapsed time for the three laps determining the starting positions for the upcoming race. The quickest total time in each of the two classes will earn the Ultimate Dana Top Qualifier Award.
As a prelude to the iconic 49th annual SCORE Baja 1000 desert race, a total of 25 of the 30 SCORE Trophy Trucks entered in the race and eight of the 20 Trophy Truck Spec race trucks have confirmed participation in the optional qualifying for starting positions within their respective classes.
Free tickets are available for the event on a limited, first-come, first-served basis. Advance free tickets (with a maximum of four per person) are available while supplies last at the popular 4 Wheel Parts store, located on 3901 West Russell Road in Las Vegas. SEMA Show badge holders will also be admitted free at the gate.
The SCORE Baja 1000 Qualifying, presented by BFGoodrich Tires is part of the massive celebratory SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience, also presented by BFGoodrich Tires, that for the third straight year will be a spotlight attraction Nov. 1-4 during the massive annual SEMA Show trade gathering at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
BAJA MIL
The race, with over 250 entries expected in classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and quads, will run over an 854.50-mile course that traverses Baja California Norte on Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula, starting and finishing in Ensenada, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The race and surrounding festivities of the final round of the four-race 2016 SCORE World Desert Championship will be held Nov. 15-20.
SEMA SCORE BAJA 1000 EXPERIENCE
For the third straight year, the SEMA Show SCORE Baja 1000 Experience includes a 70,000-square foot desert racing exhibit in the Silver Lot 3 outside of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall alongside Paradise Road.
On display are 26 SCORE Trophy Truck and eight Trophy Truck Spec race trucks, exhibits from leading off-road and desert racing companies, the SCORE transporter, a huge stage, a massive SCOREvision LED screen showing SCORE race videos, press conferences, autograph sessions and an interactive BFGoodrich Tires display which will include a public pit-crew challenge.
The daily winners will receive a set of BFGoodrich Tires and one lucky team selected at random will be rewarded with a trip to an upcoming SCORE Baja race as guests of BFGoodrich Tires.
In addition to BFGoodrich Tires, King Shocks and Vision Wheel, all SCORE sponsors, are among several elaborate exhibits inside of the SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience.
The SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience even includes a ‘taste of Baja’ with the El Jimador Tequila Mike’s Sky Ranch Eat and Meet area. This part of the Experience has a building that represents the main entrance to the popular Mike’s Sky Ranch watering hole and resort located in central Baja California in the foothills of the San Pedro Martir mountains.
On Tuesday, Nov. 1 following a 3 p.m. (PT) media conference and racer meet and greet at the SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience area, all 34 of the qualifying vehicles will start their engines in unison at 4:30 p.m. (PT) at the SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience to begin their travel on the streets of Las Vegas, a police-escorted procession to the LVMS Off-Road Track.
On Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. the 2016 SCORE Baja 1000 fast qualifier will be introduced, full results of qualifying will be presented and the drawing for starting positions for the racers in both classes that did not qualify in Las Vegas will be held.
AIRING ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK
All of the festivities will be taped for a special one-hour television show to air on the CBS Sports Network on Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. (ET) — the week before the actual SCORE Baja 1000 race is shown on Dec. 25 at 9 p.m. (ET) for the second time as a two-hour special. The CBS Sports Network is the home of the SCORE World Desert Championship broadcasts in the United States. The programs also air throughout the world across numerous licensed network platforms as well as in syndication.
SEMA SHOW
The SEMA Show is a trade show produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a nonprofit trade association founded in 1963. Since the first SEMA Show debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks. The event attracts more than 130,000 industry professionals from more than 130 countries each year. Additional details are available at www.SEMAShow.com or www.sema.org, 909.396.0289.
RACE REGISTRATION CONTINUES
Online entry registration for the race continues at Register Here for Race. Late entries received after the start drawing are being placed by class in the next available starting position following those that entered in time for the random draw.
ENTRY UPDATE
Over 250 cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads from 35 U.S. States and 15 countries are expected to take the green flag on Friday, Nov. 18 for this year’s 49th SCORE Baja 1000. The granddaddy of all desert races will be held Nov. 15-20 in Baja California Norte on Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula, starting and finishing in the seaside port of Ensenada, 65 miles south of the U.S. Border at San Diego.
A growing total of 231 vehicles are officially entered as of today and nearly 40 additional entries are expected to enter in the two-plus weeks before race day in Ensenada for the legendary race.
So far among the car, truck and UTV classes, SCORE Trophy Truck has the most entries with 30, followed by Pro UTV FI with 21, Trophy Truck Spec with 20, Class 10 with 19, the unlimited Class 1 with 16, Pro UTV with 14 and SCORE Lites with 10 officially entered to date.
Among the motorcycle classes, the Pro Moto Ironman (solo rider) has eight entries followed by Pro Moto Unlimited class and the Pro Moto 40 (m/c riders over 40 years old) with six entries with six entries each so far.
In the Sportsman classes, leading the way is Sportsman Motorcycle with 14 entries to date.
GLOBAL INTEREST
In addition to the 30 States represented on the entry list to date, racers have officially entered from 13 countries. In addition to the United States, entries so far have come from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand and the US Territory of Guam.
BEGINNING TO END
This year’s race will start for the 42nd time and finish for the 24th time in Ensenada. The start line and finish line will once again be adjacent to the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada and the first and last several spectator-friendly miles running up and back down the Ensenada Arroyo.
CBS SPORTS NETWORK COVERAGE
All races in the four-race 2016 SCORE World Desert Championship, along with the special SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience and qualifying for the SCORE Baja 1000 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway are once again airing in the USA and Canada on the CBS Sports Network. The spectacular shows feature not only SCORE Trophy Truck coverage, but also top action and highlights from many other classes of trucks, cars, UTVs, motorcycles and quads – making sure that the most exciting footage and most compelling stories continue as part of each race event broadcast.
Capping off the 2016 broadcast season, the SCORE Baja 1000 broadcast on CBS Sports Network will air as a full two-hour special for the second straight year.
ON THE AIR
2016 CBS Sports Network Original Broadcast Schedule (subject to change, check local listings)
· SCORE San Felipe 250 (first telecast-Sunday, April 17, 9 p.m. ET)
· SCORE Baja 500 (first telecast-Sunday, July 24, 9 p.m. ET)
· Rosarito Beach SCORE Desert Challenge (first telecast-Sunday, Nov. 13, 9 p.m. ET)
· SCORE Baja 1000 Qualifying @SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience (first telecast-Sunday, Dec.18, 9 p.m. ET)
· SCORE Baja 1000 (two-hour special) (first telecast-Sunday, December 25, 9 p.m. ET)
CBS SPORTS NETWORK
CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
DUST2GLORY
From award-winning documentary filmmaker Dana Brown, Dust2Glory will chronicle each of the four races in the 2016 SCORE World Desert Championship. Brown’s original Dusty to Glory, released in 2005, became an iconic classic showcasing the legendary SCORE Baja 1000. Now, D2G, which began shooting at last year’s SCORE Baja 1000, and is continuing up close and personal coverage capturing the robust racers in their amazing adventures in Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula through all four spectacular 2016 races ending with this year’s 49th SCORE Baja 1000.
SCOREscope
The four-race 2016 SCORE World Desert Championship includes four special events and for the first time all four are being held in Baja California, Mexico. Here is the complete 2016 SCORE World Desert Championship schedule:
· 30th SCORE San Felipe 250, Feb. 25-28, San Felipe, Mexico
· 48th SCORE Baja 500, June 1-5, Ensenada Mexico
· Rosarito Beach 20th SCORE Desert Challenge, Sept. 14-18, Rosarito, Mexico
· 49th SCORE Baja 1000, Nov.16-20, Ensenada, Mexico
SCORE SPONSORS…
Official SCORE Sponsors: Bud Light-Official Beer, Monster Energy-Official Energy Drink, BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber, Vision Wheel – Official Wheel, Axial R/C-Official R/C Vehicle, Muck Daddy-Official Hand Cleaner, CBS Sports Network-Official Television Partner, Wide Open Excursions- Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino.
Official SCORE Partners: 4 Wheel Parts, Coca Cola, The Satellite Phone Store, PCI Race Radios.
Additional SCORE Partners: Proturismo Ensenada, Visit Baja California Sur, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Mexicali Ayuntamineto, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Cruz Roja Mexicana, Corporate Helicopters, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, McKenzie’s Performance Products, Advanced Color Graphics.
Rosarito Beach SCORE Desert Challenge Special Partners: Vi Ayuntamiento de Playas de Rosarito, Cotuco de Playas de Rosarito, Comite de Mercadatecnia Playas de Rosarito, Baja California Secretary of Tourism.
For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCORE-International.com.
49th annual SCORE Baja 1000 Qualifying
Presented by BFGoodrich Tires
Nov. 1, 2016—7 p.m. (PT) Las Vegas Motor Speedway Off-Road Track
2.1 mile qualifying (3 laps over .7-mile dirt track)
Driver of record may use a co-driver to drive in qualifying
· Race Dates: Nov. 15-20, Season Finale of the 2016 SCORE World Desert Championship
· Race Distance/Location: 854.50 miles, loop race around Mexico’s Baja California Norte
· Race Start/Finish: Ensenada, Baja California
· Race Participants: Over 250 entries are expected from 35 U.S. States and 15 countries with competition in Pro and Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads

(NOTE: Following is the list of those entries who will be displaying their exotic racing machines at the SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience in Las Vegas Nov. 1-4 and participating in qualifying for the top two classes of vehicles in the race. As of 10.31.16)